Does the diamond trade help ordinary Africans?
In most cases, no. While the rulers and militia of many African countries have reaped financial windfalls from diamonds, few economic benefits have trickled down to the diamond diggers. This is especially true in West Africa where hard labor often earns less than one dollar per day. Even in countries such as Botswana, where economic benefit has been more widespread, diamonds have caused great suffering for disenfranchised minorities like the San Bushmen. This tribe has been displaced from their Ancestral land, and violently harassed and tortured. Why is this website coming out now? The diamond industry has been responding defensively in advance of the movie “Blood Diamond” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which comes out in prime holiday shopping in December. A $15M marketing campaign has been launched by the diamond industry to convince consumers that blood diamonds aren’t a problem. This website aims to tell the other side of the story. How can I help? Consumers can make a difference with
